This is the last week to vote for us as ‘Top Tour Operator’ in this year’s Wanderlust Reader Awards. The awards are entirely voted for by you, so our past wins have really meant the world. If you’ve got a few minutes to spare to help us be in with the chance of scooping another gong, we’d be so grateful. (We’re up against some big boys in the travel industry, so every vote counts!) Plus, you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of 8 amazing prizes worth over £70,000! We can’t thank you enough for your support.
Click here to Vote for HA in this years’ Wanderlust Reader Awards
6 ‘Go Local’ Holiday Ideas
And now, on to the exciting, travel-based bits! Here at HA, we believe in the power of travel as a force of good. This good comes from the connections you make along the way. The experiences of local cultures that open your minds. The authentic interactions with local people that open your hearts. These are the holiday moments that stay with you long after you return home.
That’s why we’re always looking for ways to get you right to the heart of the country you’re visiting. (As well as making sure you take in all the highlights along the way, of course.) So, below are 6 of our newest itineraries – all with a focus on those moments of real connection that happen when you venture a little further from the tourist trail…
Go Local in Costa Rica
Learn how to make traditional gallo pinto in a wood stove with Doña Elida, visit remote villages in lesser-known Boca Topada, plant trees in the rainforest, go on a plantation tour to learn about sugar cane production – the list goes on! You can do all of this alongside the classic wildlife tours, ziplining and sloth spotting to make a beautifully rounded and unique trip through Costa Rica, with never a dull moment.
Click here to Explore Costa Rica Adventures for you
Go Local in Oman
Our Go Local in Oman itinerary is filled with experiences that get you right up-close to what it means to be Omani. Up in the Hajar Mountains, Take a walk with a local farmer through one of our favourites, Misfat Al Abriyeen, to learn about how they cultivate this sometimes harsh landscape using techniques that have been preserved for decades (if not centuries!) Nearby you can also visit the village of Al Hamra where you’ll stroll around the living museum of Bait Al Safah, and be welcomed into an old Omani home turned cultural highlight.
Click here to Explore Oman Holiday Ideas
Go Local in South Africa
Sure – you’re going to go to South Africa for the safari, there’s no doubt about it. But on top of all of that incredible wildlife there is so much culture to explore, and our Go Local in South Africa itinerary delves deep into the heart of all that history. One of the highlights of this trip is the Township tours, which (when done responsibly) are a way for travellers to understand the deep divide that remains ever-present in modern day South Africa. Uthando is a charity that does these tours right. Their project offers a range of hands-on activities – it could be anything from helping in community gardens to visiting nursing homes – that give back to the region you’re travelling in.
Click here to view South Africa Holiday Inspiration
Go Local in Peru
Picture yourself exploring the buzzing markets in the capital of Lima, discovering an abundance of wildlife as the mist rises over the Amazon rainforest, sharing a meal in the Sacred Mountains with local Incan communities, learning about century-old weaving traditions in Cusco, or staying at a homestay on a floating island (yes you read that right – floating island!) on Lake Titicaca. On top of all that, you’ll still of course get to marvel at the pure beauty of glorious Peru too. It’s a country that really does have it all.
Click here for more Peru Holiday Perks
Go Local in Morocco
A highlight of any Morocco holiday though is how absolutely delightful its people are, and our Go Local in Morocco itinerary helps you get in touch with the warm and welcoming community that call it home. Wander through the markets of Marrakesh, where you’ll get crafty at a slipper-making workshop to learn all about how they create these signature shoes. There are pottery and cooking classes to throw yourself into here too, to really sharpen up your skills the Moroccan way! Up in Fez, we have a fantastic Day in the Life of a Local Family excursion, where you’ll learn a little bit of Arabic and cook, shop, and eat with a lovely family to learn all about their way of life. The Atlas Mountains are without doubt one of the most untouched parts of Morocco, and on our brilliant Go Berber excursion you’ll also be able to share a meal with the friendly locals, as well as try your hand at pottery and weaving.
Click here to Explore Morocco
Go Local in Jordan
In the capital of Amman and on its outskirts you can try your hand at beekeeping and honey harvesting near the spectacular ruins at Umm Qais, where passionate beekeeper Yousef will teach you all about this fascinating process over a three-hour workshop. Nearby you can also join an immersive shepherding experience, where you will learn all about how these local communities look after their sheep in the magnificent surrounding landscape, followed by a cheese-making session run by the family too.
Click here to Adventure Through Jordan
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